The ancient sport will either emerge from its ultimate crisis stronger than ever -- or be forced to adjust to the cruel reality of life outside of the Olympic program.

Wrestling, squash and a combined bid from baseball-softball will make their final pleas to the full IOC assembly in Buenos Aires, Argentina, which will vote on which sport gets the last spot in the 2020 Olympics on Sept. 8.

The pitch the IOC will hear from FILA, the sport's international governing body, is that wrestling is a pure, global, evolving and all-inclusive sport that's long been the essence of the Olympic movement.

Now facing the possible end of Olympic wrestling, officials are optimistic they've done all it can to ensure its survival.

"We have done everything possible in this time frame," FILA president Nenad Lalovic said. "We were limited by the time between, (but we did) everything possible, and implemented it."

Wrestling certainly had a lot of work to do -- and very little time to do it -- after the IOC board's surprising recommendation in February that it be cut from the Olympics.

Issues including leadership, gender equity and a product that many viewed as confusing and unappealing to casual viewers had plagued the sport for years.

FILA responded with quick and sweeping changes in all aspects of the sport.